Method of and apparatus for producing metallic fiber



1961 H- CRAWFORD 3,014,264

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING METALLIC FIBER Filed Aug. 28, 1957 I N VEN TOR.

Hugh drawford MyE /AWEEA ATTD RN EYS United States This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for producing metallic fibers.

The object of the invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for producing metallic fibers whereby such fibers can be used for cleaning or polishing materials or for any other purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for producing metallic fibers wherein a plurality of strips are passed between rollers, the strips being arranged contiguous to each other and being made of metal, there being a cutting blade arranged in engagement with the cutting strips so that the metallic fibers will be produced.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means for producing metallic fibers which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus for producing the metallic fibers, constructed according to the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1, and with parts broken away and in section.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken through the assembly shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 on the line 3--3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating a modified means for actuating the cutting blade.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 4.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numerals designate each of a pair of similar support members which each includes a first plate 11 and a second plate 12, FIGURE 3, and the plates 11 and 12 are arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to each other and are connected together by braces 13.

There is further provided a drive shaft which is indicated generally by the numeral 14, and the drive shaft 14 has a pulley 15 on an end thereof. A belt 16 is adapted to be trained over the pulley 15, and the belt 16 can be connected to any suitable power source for rotating the drive shaft 14. Mounted on the drive shaft 14 is a pair of spaced apart beveled gears 17 which mesh with bevel gears 18 that are mounted on driven shafts 19, the driven shafts 19 being journaled between the plates 11 and 12 of the upper support member 10.

Journaled between the plates 11 and 12 on the lower support member 10 is a pair of spaced parallel stub shafts 20, and the shafts 19 and 20 each have a roller 21 mounted on an end thereof. Mounted for movement between the upper and lower rollers 21 is a plurality of metal strips 22 which are adapted to be used for producing the metallic fibers 23, FIGURE 1, and in use the strips 22 pass from right to left as indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 1.

The metallic fiber producing assembly of the present invention further includes a guide assembly which is indicated generally by the numeral 24, and the guide assembly 24 includes a web 25 which is secured to the outer surface of the plates 11. Extending outwardly from the web 25 is a pair of spaced parallel legs 26, and

atent 3,014,254 Patented Dec. 26, 1961 journaled between the legs 26 are guide members or rollers 27 which are arranged on opposite sides of the strips 22 so as to help maintain the strips 22 in their proper aligned position as they pass through the apparatus.

There is further provided a cutting assembly which is indicated generally by the numeral 28, and the cutting assembly 28 serves to produce the metallic fibers 23 from the strips 22. The cutting assembly 28 includes a bracket 29 which is provided with a base 30 that is secured in any suitable manner to the plates 11 of the support members 10. Extending outwardly from the base 30 of the bracket 29 is a pair of spaced parallel fingers 31, and journaled "between the fingers 31 is a pin or shaft 32 which carries a cutting blade 33, and the cutting blade 33 is provided with a sharp cutting edge 34 for engagement with the strips 22. A set screw 35 is provided for maintaining the blade 33 in its proper position. There is further provided a means for adjusting the position of the cutting blade 33, and this means comprises a cylinder 36 which can be connected to any suitable power source such as the source of hydraulic fluid under pressure or to a source of compressed air, and conduits 37 and 38 are connected to the cylinder 36 for the passage therethrough of the actuating medium or fluid such as the hydraulic fluid. A piston 39 is slidably mounted in the cylinder 36, and a rod 40 extends from the piston 39 and is pivotally connected to a lever 41 by means of a pin 42, the lever 41 being connected to the'pin 32 which carries the blade 33.

Referring to FIGURES 4 and 5 of the drawings, there is shown a modified actuating means for adjusting the position of the cutting blade 33, and this modified actuating means comprises a cable 44 which is trained over a pulley 45, and the pulley 45 may be supported by a body member 43 which may be supported on a platform 47. The cable 44 is connected to the lever 41, and a plurality of weights 46 may be connected to the cable 44.

From the foregoing it is apparent that there has been provided a method of and apparatus for producing metallic fibers from strips of metal such as the strips 22. In use, the strips 22 pass from right to left as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 and these strips 22 are arranged between the upper and lower rollers 21. The upper rollers 21 are the drive rollers, while the lower rollers 21 constitute the idler rollers. The upper rollers 21 are rotated by means of the previously described drive mechanism which includes the shaft 14 that is rotated by the belt 16 which is trained over the pulley 15, and this rotation of the shaft 14 causes rotation of the pair of beveled gears 17. As the bevel gears 17 rotate, they drive the shafts 19 since the gears 18 mesh with the gears 17. This rotation of the shafts 19 causes rotation of the rollers 21 which are mounted on the ends thereof whereby strips of metal 22 will be moved from right to left as shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2. These strips of metal pass between the rollers 27 which help to maintain the strips in their proper position and these strips also pass through the cutter assembly 28 which includes the cutting blade 33 so that the cutting blade 33 Willcause the metal fibers 23 to be formed which can be used for any desired purpose, as for example, the metal fibers 23 can be used for cleaning, polishing or other purposes, as desired.

As previously described, the cutting blade 33 can be adjusted as desired, and one means of adjusting the cutting blade 33 is shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 wherein the cylinder 36 is adapted to be connected to a suitable source of fluid under pressure such as hydraulic fluid or compressed air whereby the piston 39 can be actuated so as to move the rod 40 and this in turn will move the lever 41 which will control the position and depth of cutting of the blade 33. Instead of using the hydraulic actuating 3 means shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the plurality of weights 46 shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 can be used wherein the weights 46 are mounted on the cable 44 which is trained over the pulley 45, and the cable 44 serves to bias the lever 41 and blade 33 into proper cutting position.

Thus, it will be seen that there has been provided a means for producing metallic fibers which includes the plurality of rollers 21 which serve to bring pressure to bear on the group of flexible metal strips 22 and these rollers drive the strips 22 simultaneously in the same direction. There is further provided the cutting assembly 28 which includes the blade 33 that is arranged in opposition to the direction in which the strips are being driven so that by the application of pressure of the cutting blade against the materials to be cut, there is produced the metallic fibers 23 and these fibers 23 can be used to make cleaning or polishing agents or for any other desired purpose or material.

Heretofore, steel or other metallic fibers have been produced by utilizing the material to be cut in the form of a wire but this is risky since the wire usually or often breaks due to tension and knife cuts so that there is high percentage of waste as compared with the percentage yield from useful material. In the present invention, breaking of material is eliminated and the percentage yield of useful material is greatly increased or extended. Also, with the present invention there is a saving in work space and maintenance problems are minimized as compared with the Wire cutt ng method above described. The parts are arranged so that access can be readily gained thereto and the cutting tool can be moved while the machine is in motion. The combination of pressure exerted in the cylinder 36 and the leverage aiiorded by the linkage Will exert sufficient cutting pressure on the cutting tool so as to produce a filament or metallic fiber. Instead of using the cylinder 36, the alternative arrangement shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 can be used wherein the plurality of weights 46 will exert suflicient cutting pressure so a to produce the metallic fiber.

I claim:

In an apparatus for producing metallic fibers, a pair of support members arranged adjacent each other and each including a first and second plate arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to each other, braces extending between the plates of said support members, a drive shaft, a pulley secured to one end of said drive shaft that is adapted to be connected by a belt to a power source and said drive shaft having a pair of spaced apart 4 bevel gears thereon, a pair of spaced parallel driven shafts journaled in one of said support members and having bevel gears thereon meshing with the bevel gears on said drive shaft, a pair of spaced parallel stub shafts journaled in the other support member and arranged be low said driven shafts, rollers on the ends of said driven and stub shafts and said rollers being spaced forwardly from said first plates, said rollers having a plurality of contiguous strips or metal passing therebetween, a body member including a web secured to said first plates, :1 pair of spaced parallel legs extending outwardly from said web, a pair of horizontally disposed parallel spaced guide rollers journaled between said legs and having said metallic strips passing therebetween, and a cutting assembly secured to the first plates of said support members, said cutting assembly comprising a bracket including a base secured to said first plates, said bracket further inciuding a pair of horizontally disposed spaced parallel fingers, a vertically disposed shaft journalled in said fingers, a cutting blade adjustably mounted in sadi vertically disposed shaft and positioned between said fingers for engagement with the metallic stirps, means for adjusting said cutting blade, said last means comprising a cable, link means connecting said cable to said vertically disposed shaft, a plurality of Weights connected to said cable, and means mounted in said vertically disposed shaft and engaging said cutting blade to retain said cutting blade in adjusted fixed relation to said vertically disposed shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 91,267 Repetti June 15, 1869 619,520 Veilgaard et al. Feb. 14, 1899 1,514,647 Bowen Nov. 11, 1924 1,608,478 Field Nov. 23, 1926 1,769,602 Perhats July 1, 1930 1,846,635 Finley Feb. 23, 1932 2,078,698 Svenson Apr. 27, 1937 2,374,847 Vollrath May 1, 1945 2,429,611 Churnell Oct. 28, 1947 2,503,476 Glover Apr. 11, 1950 2,526,029 Judelson Oct. 17, 1950 2,700,812 Field Feb. 1, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 21,198 Great Britain 1909 1,123,450 France Sept. 21, 1956 

